Small Town Romance

2020 ARCs, Angsty, Friends-To-Lovers, May 2020 Reviews, Small Town Romance

R E V I E W ➠ The Summer Deal by Jill Shalvis

May 21, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

Brynn Turner desperately wishes she had it together, but her personal life is like a ping-pong match that’s left her scared and hurt after so many attempts to get it right. In search of a place to lick her wounds and get a fresh start, she heads back home to Wildstone.
And then there’s Kinsey Davis, who after battling serious health issues her entire twenty-nine years of life, is tired of hoping for . . . well, anything. She’s fierce, tough, and pretty much the opposite of Brynn except for one thing: they’re half-sisters. Kinsey is keeping this bombshell, and a few others as well. Long time frenemies from summer camp, there’s no way she’s going to tell Brynn they’re related.
But then Brynn runs into Kinsey’s lifelong best friend, Eli, renewing a childhood crush. He’s still easy-going and funny and sexy as hell. When he gets her to agree to a summer-time deal to trust him to do right by her, no matter what, she never dreams it’ll result in finding a piece of herself she didn’t even know was missing. She could have a sister, love, and a future―if she can only learn to let go of the past.
As the long days of summer wind down, the three of them must discover if forgiveness is enough to grasp the unconditional love that’s right in front of them.

RELEASE DATE: June 2, 2020

Not my first read by the author and I was so happy when I got the chance to review this. I adore Jill’s books, it’s more woman’s fiction at times but the way she writes is with contemporary romance intertwined, works really well. Her characters are always realistic, and this also featured another 2 romances into one book so you are getting a lot.

This really was a sweet and refreshing read. The sisters here are what true sisters are to be, what they go through might be separate but intertwined. This brings out two childhood enemies, twist, turns and one big bang if you will. This really has to be lived through, the secret…I was not ready for that.

Romance: ♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: N/A
Standalone/Series: Book #3
Type: All Tags on top of this page!
Recommended: ☑

2020 ARCs, Angsty, Friends-To-Lovers, May 2020 Reviews, Second Chance Romance, Sizzling, Small Town Romance, Surprise Baby, Tear Jerker

R E V I E W ➠ Fight For Me by Corinne Michaels

May 14, 2020May 15, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

GOODREADS

AUTHOR WEBSITE

AMAZON

I fell in love with Sydney Hastings when I was ten years old.
At sixteen, we whispered promises of forever.
When I was twenty-two I broke them all. I left her and promised never to return.
After my father’s death, I’m forced to go home to Sugarloaf for six months. She’ll be everywhere, no longer just in my memories and regrets.
When we’re together, it’s as though time never stopped. She’s still the one I want, but I don’t deserve her. Instead of apologizing, I take that beautiful, broken woman in my arms. But after that, it’s her turn to leave me.
Now I have to fight. For her. For us. For the life we both want …

RELEASE DATE: May 19, 2020

Her head is in my hands, and my heart is at her feet. She has no idea how badly I want to be the man she still sees.
-Declan

Not my first read by the author or last, I’ve been a huge fan for many years. I was WAITING FOR DECLAN gah *sigh* absolutely everything about it kept me captivated through out the whole book. What a start…and then I finished it and I am now asking myself what in the heck just happened? Wha…why? *breathing*

Well this will be really hard to keep spoiler free but I shall. If you’ve read book one you know this was going to be a second-chance and if you didn’t, now you know. It was so intense to a point I wanted to throw my kindle, then it just took a turn and BAM, I was balling my eyes out into my chips I was eating. It feels like I just got off a roller coaster ride and wasn’t sure that I ever even got on one. It was intense, heart-breakingly beautiful, angsty, sorrow and romantic in it’s own way! You kind of come out breathing little faster, but by gosh did it mend my heart! You don’t want to miss Declan and Sydney’s story…one for the books!!

TOP 2020 MUST READ!
Romance: ♡♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: N/A
Standalone/Series: Book #2
Type: All Tags on top of this page!
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY ☑

2020 ARCs, Friends-To-Lovers, May 2020 Reviews, Second Chance Romance, Single Mom, Sizzling, Slow Burn, Small Town Romance, Sport Romance, Sports Romance

R E V I E W ➠ Clutch Player by Nikki Ash

May 14, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

GOODREADS

AUTHOR WEBSITE

Clutch player: an athlete who is good under pressure and performs highly impossible plays in a quick and almost impossible amount of time.
Harper
I fell in love when I was sixteen. Landon was my entire world and I thought he would be my forever. But I was young and dumb, and with one error in judgement, I destroyed any chance of a future we could’ve had together, along with our hearts.
Twelve years later and I’m going through the motions of life, but not actually living. Which is why I let my friends, Bridget and Simon, set me up on a blind date. Turns out, it’s not so blind after all. Because the man sitting in front of me is the same man who’s held onto my heart all these years.
Landon
They call me a Clutch Player because I’m good under pressure and quick on my feet. I was also quick to fall in love. The first time it was with baseball, the second was with Harper. And for a short time I had them both.
Until I lost Harper and all I had left was baseball.
For years, I focused on my career. I had accepted that baseball was my one true love.
Until I saw her again. I never imagined we’d ever get a second chance, but now that she’s sitting right across from me, I know there’s no way in hell I’m going to let her go again.

RELEASE DATE: May 17, 2020

“It’s us, Harp. It feels like this because it’s you and me.”

Not my first read by the author but it has been a while, I really really loved this one too. The romance on this was off the roof, you will fall in love with the hero instantly…this is a heartbreaking story of mistakes being made, misunderstanding and priorities being thrown around instead of organized. Sweet, beautiful, sizzling and captivating. It went really well with the Cocky Books and your heart will melt with the epilogue!!

Romance: ♡♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: N/A
Standalone/Series: Standalone
Type: All Tags on top of this page!
Recommended: ☑

2020 ARCs, Angsty, April 2020 Review, Enemy-To-Lovers, Forbidden Romance, Friends-To-Lovers, Slow Burn, Small Town Romance, Tear Jerker

R E V I E W ➠ Reckless Memories by Catherine Cowles

May 2, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

GOODREADS – AMAZON – AUTHOR WEBSITE

I loved him before I knew what the word meant.
From skinned knees to first dates and everything in between.
But he was never mine to love.
I settled for friendship, even though I always wanted more.
That was before.
Before he ripped my world apart and didn’t bother sticking around to help me pick up the pieces.
I knit every last shred back together all on my own.
And I’ve all but forgotten his name.
Now, he’s back, and everything is torn apart once more.
But he’s not the only one doing the tearing this time.
And there might be no stopping the person who has it out for us both.

RELEASE DATE: May 12, 2020

I’d miss her like a lost limb, ghost pains and longing for something that no longer existed plaguing me daily.
-Ford

Not my first read by the author, she is a new-ish author to me. I have read one previous book by author and LOVED IT! So this I was so excited about since it’s also a new book and series! That said I am always honest in my review’s even when it’s something that I dislike to read or about the characters, the issue I had with this was and AGAIN this is how I feel about that type of style and situation…I can’t even explain/express it fully because I don’t want to ruin the book, but I don’t very much like the idea of the hero belonging to someone else, close or not. That’s as far as I am able to go because I don’t do spoilers but I had to get that off my chest because it’s just something that I dislike to read or even think about, so personal preference. That also said, it did not ruin the book for me, after I got over my little dislike in every book i’d have read, I absolutely couldn’t get enough of the story line and everything that was happening.

This story really tugs at your heart strings…I had a little bit of issue getting over a tiny little bump at the beginning but aside form that I really was not ready for what was to come. This author has a way with words that you don’t feel like you’re reading but it’s just happening. There is a lot of slow-burning angst here that will keep you on your toes. It’s full of heart and emotion, at times funny, the banter and tension…and SWEET slow burning sensation!!!! And in the end I CAN’T WAIT for more in the series!!

Rating: ★★★★★
Romance: ♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥
Type: Book #1 of Series
Recommended: ☑
⇨ H A P P Y – R E A D I N G ⇦

2020 ARCs, April 2020 Review, Friends-To-Lovers, Second Chance Romance, Sizzling, Small Town Romance, Sport Romance, Sports Romance, Tear Jerker, TOP 2020 MUST READ

R E V I E W ➠ Unforgettable by Melanie Harlow

May 2, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

GOODREADS

AUTHOR WEBSITE

Back then, I had it all.
Wicked fastball. Killer instinct. Cocky grin. Full package.
(And believe me, I knew how to score.)
My senior year, I was a first round draft pick with a two-million-dollar signing bonus. Before I could even legally buy myself a beer, I made my Major League debut.
Point is, I was invincible.
Until one day I wasn’t.
After tanking my career—during the World Series, no less—the last thing I want to do is return to my hometown, where every jerk in a ball cap has an opinion about what went wrong with my arm.
So when my sister drags me back to town for her wedding, I vow to get in and out of there as quickly as possible.
Then I run into April Sawyer.
In high school we were just friends, but I’d always wanted her, and I’d never forgotten her—the red hair, the incredible smile, the crazy, reckless thing we did in the back of my truck the night we said goodbye.
It’s been eighteen years, but one look at her and I feel like my old self again. I can still make her laugh, she can still take me down a notch, and when the chemistry between us explodes, it’s even hotter this time around—and I don’t want it to end.
But just when I think I’m ready to let go of the past and get back in the game, life throws me a curveball I never saw coming.

RELEASE DATE: May 4, 2020

First of, I can;t believe this is THE LAST BOOK in the series *crying* noooo! Also I have read almost all of the author’s books including every one in this series! Still crying because there won’t be anymore, but what an ENDING! *still crying*

First off the hero is Sadie’s big brother, our heroine April used to babysit Sadie back in high school where she also tutored the hero, so they all have history. Now I do not want to spoil any part of this story because it’s rather important and big for the conclusion of this series. If you’ve read the whole series you MIGHT get an idea, but I gotta say I did not expect that ending…and can we talk about that before all? WHY DID IT HAVE TO END?! Ugh, makes me want to re-read the whole series now!

That said, this is something sweet…dark but sweet. I loved April in the previous series book when she’s around and mentioned and so I did not expect anything less of a BANG for her book than this. Things aren’t as they see, watch out for slight curves and grab a couple tissues you might need them at a time or two. It just felt HONEST, like relatable and just real. I am so happy I had the chance to review this, and really wish there was more!!

TOP 2020 MUST READ!
Romance: ♡♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: N/A
Standalone/Series: #5 Series
Type: All Tags on top of this page!
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY ☑

2020 ARCs, Angsty, April 2020 Review, Cowboy Romance, Friends-To-Lovers, MUST READS!, Second Chance Romance, Sizzling, Small Town Romance

R E V I E W ➠ Here With Me by Tia Louise

April 15, 2020May 6, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

GOODREADS – AMAZON – AUTHOR WEBSITE

Sawyer LaGrange.
He’s my best friend’s older brother.
He’s quiet, brooding, sinfully sexy …
Dark hair, a scruffy square jaw, and deep lines of muscle I trace my fingers along slowly, followed by my lips…
He always does what’s right.
Until me…
They say you get in life what you have the courage to ask for.
Well, I’m brave.
And I want him.
Secrets.
Everybody has them.
Big, small, innocent… forbidden.
Mindy was a line I should never have crossed.
But I did.
She was beautiful… sassy and tempting,
And rules were made to be broken.
We broke them all.
Now I’m home, released from service with hidden scars.
Now my secrets are the demons that grow stronger every day.
I try to send her away, but I can’t let her go.
She’s my reason to fight, and I’ll walk through hell to be the man she deserves.
To give her a reason to stay here with me.

(HERE WITH ME is a STAND-ALONE best friend’s older brother, second-chance, military romance. No cheating. No cliffhangers.)

RELEASE DATE: April 20, 2020

Not my first read by the author and I have read almost every single one of her books! Every time she comes out with a book I get excited to read!! First off this hero is the brother of the heroine Noel from Wait For Me and the heroine is Noel’s best friend Mindy. So get ready for second chance romance with a twist!

Our hero here is not your normal broken this and that, he is much deeper…and to be honest when reading his thoughts and words…makes you understand him so much yet want to reach in and help. The heroine is the sweetest, she has always been in love with the hero, but never the right time. She is smart, so talented, beautiful, fun and the biggest heart…but them together is kind of like a magnet, you know they belong together but sometimes slip off. If I had to pick a tiny slaw it would be the heroine playing small little games at times, I understood but to me it was that tiny little thing if I had to find it. Aside from all that, this sis a beautifully broken story that will tear you apart and put you back together by SAWYER himself…so sweet and heartbreaking to watch him fight and fight for her!

A MUST READ!
Rating: ★★★★★
Romance: ♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Type: Standalone (I recommend reading Wait For Me) CLICK HERE
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY ☑
⇨ H A P P Y – R E A D I N G ⇦

2020 ARCs, April 2020 Review, Friends-To-Lovers, Single Mom, Sizzling, Slow Burn, Small Town Romance, Sport Romance, Sports Romance, Tear Jerker, TOP 2020 MUST READ

R E V I E W ➠ Ember by Emma Renshaw

April 15, 2020April 15, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

GOODREADS – AMAZON – AUTHOR WEBSITE

One night changed an entire town.
Ten years ago, I left Hawk Valley.
I never planned to return. Not to the regrets. The bitter memories. The guilt.
My baseball career gave me both the excuse and the money I needed to start over. Then my mom called, and I found myself headed back to the one place I swore I wouldn’t step foot again.
Meeting Delilah wasn’t part of the plan. Falling in love with her adorable son was even less so. And yet, what’s brewing between us is too intense to be denied. The unexpected passion is almost enough to distract us from the crumbling of both our worlds.
But even as the sparks fly, someone is waiting in the shadows to burn it all down.

RELEASE DATE: April 21, 2020

From cradle to grave.
From sandbox to the pine box.
From home plate to center field.

I inched closer to her even though I was denying what I wanted to do, which was sweep her into my arms and kiss the living daylight out of her.
-Gunner

Not my first read by the author, she was a new to me a little ago but I read one book and then I had to read all of her books. This one, not so different. Have you ever started a book and it’s so damn good that you had to stop yourself from reading because you didn’t want it to end? Well, this is that type for me!

The book stars off with you needing tissues, because not only do things happen fast but also in doubles. But you will instantly fall in love with Gunner, right off the bat! Both hero and heroine are put in difficult situations, very different form one another meaning they carry the same amount of guilt and worry on their shoulders but worlds apart. Typing this reminds me of how I could have used another 5 or 6 books of continued stories from just this one book.

Gunner is the perfect hero, caring, strong, sweet, sexy and a baseball player…that’s all I need to say. He lost something a very long time ago but it hung on him for years, now that he is back in town for his mother…he can’t seem to get away from the memories.
Delilah is a woman that let’s just say had to grow up pretty fast. Going through life cooking one meal after another, by the way she is a fantastic chef…and her son is the main thing in her life at all times. I absolutely, if you don’t fall in love with Gunner by himself at the beginning you will once you meet him and Tucker *swoon swoon swoon* after all this book gave me all the feels, emotional, beautiful, haunting, captivating and all the romance and sexiness you need! I can’t wait to read more…p.s. secretly looking and hoping Colt Delilah’s brother gets a story!

TOP 2020 MUST READ!
Rating: ★★★★★
Romance: ♡♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Type: Standalone
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY ☑
⇨ H A P P Y – R E A D I N G ⇦

2020 ARCs, April 2020 Review, Friends-To-Lovers, MUST READS!, Rom-Com, Second Chance Romance, Sizzling, Slow Burn, Small Town Romance

R E V I E W ➠ She Loves Me by Melissa Foster

April 13, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

GOODREADS – AMAZON – AUTHOR WEBSITE

What are two besties willing to risk for something more? The New York Times bestselling author of This Is Love has the answer in this fun, sexy, and emotional romance about friendship, family, and giving love a chance.
Something is off in Piper Dalton’s life, and she has a feeling it might just be her. All her siblings are blissfully settled with their forever loves. But while her sisters were dreaming of white weddings, Piper was left heartbroken and commitment phobic by her first love, her best friend’s younger brother. As a woman dominating the male-driven construction industry, Piper has no interest in turning in her hammer for an apron—even if hot and hilarious Harley thinks otherwise.
Burly bar owner Harley Dutch has a bum ankle and two preteen nieces to take care of, and having his best friend, tough-as-nails and sexy-as-sin Piper Dalton, come to his rescue is just the remedy he needs. Piper is her snarky self, and she kind of sucks at caregiving, but she’s owned his heart for years, she’s got a way with the girls, and Harley would sure like to have his way with her…
As things heat up between Piper and Harley, she warns him not to fall in love with her because she’ll only break his heart. Harley is the right man for that challenge—until he makes the biggest mistake of his life, and they begin to wonder if true love really can conquer all.

RELEASE DATE: April 21, 2020

Not my first read by the author, she is a top favorite one as a matter of fact. I also have read the other books in the series. I was little skeptical about this one, because it’s Piper the strong, tom-boy, self sufficient, funny and again STRONG heroine. Those tend to turn me off, sadly it did but only for a few pages, I knew the way MF writes heroines that they are the good kind of strong. So, I absolutely devoured the book after a few pages!.

I really loved them together. Their banter, easy going friendship and sizzling feeling they were both trying to deny for one another. Stolen moments is what this book is all about for me, it feels a little forbidden and new and exciting, I loved watching them dodge each other all while really wanting to explore. My heart melted with this one, when there is so much happening Piper *sigh* her big heart will make you fall in love with her from the bat and Harley, as much as a jokester he is, when he lets go…absolutely BEST BOOKBOYFRIEND. Everything about this book, and I know I’ve said this before about one of her books but this is how amazing she is…about every single book I’ve read by MF I have loved! This one is just special, beautiful, sweet, SWOONY, romantic, fun and sexy! Everything you’d want in a friends to romance book!

A MUST READ!
Rating: ★★★★★
Romance: ♡♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Type: Book #3 of Series
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY ☑
⇨ H A P P Y – R E A D I N G ⇦

2020 ARCs, Angsty, April 2020 Review, Cowboy Romance, Friends-To-Lovers, Mysery, Slow Burn, Small Town Romance, Suspense Romance, Tear Jerker, TOP 2020 MUST READ

R E V I E W ➠ Southern Comfort by Natasha Madison

April 9, 2020April 14, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

GOODREADS – AMAZON – AUTHOR WEBSITE

Buried secrets never stay hidden in the South.

Olivia
When you find out that your fiancé is arrested for swindling over ten million dollars from his clients, you do what any sane woman would do. You escape reality and go undercover, trading in your city-girl Louboutins for country-pumpkin cowboy boots.
It wasn’t a forever change—it was temporary. I only had to stay here until things back home got straightened out, or so I thought.
Casey
I was riding horses before I was walking, or at least that was what they told me. I always knew I would take over the family farm. It’s in my blood.
Country boy at heart, the minute I saw her dragging her luggage up the gravel driveway I knew she was out of my league.
I shouldn’t have started anything with her, because I knew she was just passing through.
I couldn’t stop it, I fell in love with her. Even though I knew, in the end, she would leave me.

RELEASE DATE: April 14, 2020

“That mouth of yours is going to get you in a whole heap of trouble.”
-Casey

Not my first read by the author, she is one of my favorites! Also this NEW series is ‘Save a horse, ride a Cowboy’ amazing!! Prepare for your emotions to be on HIGH in this one! If you’ve read Book #1 you know that this one is about book 1’s brother (Casey) and her best friend (Olivia). It’s complicated to start with.

Olivia comes from a background where she was always told what, how and when to do ANYTHING. She never really had a remodel, especially her mother. When she met Book 1’s heroine, they became more than best friends. When she goes back to her best friends home town, she is met with the most handsome cowboy she has ever met. Casey, the brother she apparently was being held out on by her bestie. Olivia is a happy girl, she smiles often but that smile hides a lot. When running away from a problem it always seems to follow you, in this case not only her but she has put her best friends family in jeopardy. Thinking it’s all clear she plans well she has always planned to go back to the city, after-all she doesn’t know country living much. But that past may seem a lot harder to subdue then she thought.

Casey, I can’t tell you enough how much I LOVE HIM, seriously crush love him. He is broody, big, handsome, sexy, that accent and boots & stetson *swoon* all his life he has wanted one thing, and at one point in it he almost had it. Now that his sister is back in town and in tow with the sweet, beautiful, sassy and smart Olivia…his emotions are all over. When he offers her to stay with him, he wasn’t expecting anything but that. But Casey is a protector at nature, and even though he has his own daemons he is fighting, he knows that protecting her is a must. I gotta say that Casey is not your typical broken hero, it goes more and deeper than that. *sigh*

Both of these characters are complex in their own way but when together you can;t help but laugh along, smile or even tear up. Something about two broken souls coming together. I do really wish they talked to one another, their not sharing their feelings is on another level. But everything about this book and series so far is TOP for me, this book continues smoothly from the first one and is a lot more emotional in all the ways you want it to be. I laughed, smiled and cried in this one, and I can’t wait for more, which by the way is going to me amazing from the ending of this book. p.s. this is a sweet slow-burn & you get 2 epilogues *swoon*

TOP 2020 MUST READ list!
Rating: ★★★★★
Romance: ♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Type: Book #2 of Series
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY ☑
⇨ H A P P Y – R E A D I N G ⇦

2020 ARCs, Angsty, April 2020 Review, Friends-To-Lovers, MUST READS!, Single Mom, Sizzling, Slow Burn, Small Town Romance

R E V I E W ➠ Just One Kiss by Layla Hagen

April 7, 2020by The Guide To Romance NovelsLeave a Comment

GOODREADS – AMAZON – AUTHOR WEBSITE

Everyone associates the name Ryker Winchester with money, power plays, negotiations…it’s what I’m good at. In the boardroom, I get exactly what I want. In the bedroom, there’s no difference.
I was wholly unprepared for Heather.
She’s a feisty single mom, challenging me in ways no woman ever has. I can’t get enough of her. The way she gives in to me is intoxicating, but I need more than hot nights and sexy dates.
When she introduces me to her daughter, I fall for that little girl hook, line and sinker. No one has ever played me for a fool like that kid can do with a single dimpled grin. I want to keep them both.
Heather’s been hurt before. She’s hanging by a thread and doesn’t trust easily, but I want more than just some fun. How can I show her that we can build something incredible together?

RELEASE DATE: April 14, 2020

Not my first read by the author, love Layla’s books, but I have not read book #1 in this series, which I hope to get to soon…yes even backwards. I am so glad I read this because reading book 1 will be a MUST if it’s as good as this!

Ryker is a successful businessman, has it all, but his favorite is playing the guitar nightly at a local bar. Que in single-mom Heather who is feisty, sassy and so sweet. They don’t have much interaction that first meet but Ryker comes to the rescue…in many ways. When they see each other again, not only are they drawn to one another but the sparks fly, really fly. I absolutely LOVE them together…and I can’t say this enough but Ryker is a whole new level of SWOONY, the way he is with Heather’s daughter *sigh* everything about this book was charming, exciting, romantic and beautiful!

A MUST READ!
Rating: ★★★★★
Romance: ♡♡♡♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Type: Book #2 of Series
Recommended: ☑ HIGHLY ☑
⇨ H A P P Y – R E A D I N G ⇦